Suspended railway car aerodynamically supported



United States Patent Warner H. Witmer Apt. J107, Quakertovvn WestApartments, Quakertown, Pennsylvania 18951 [21] Appl. No. 716,238

[22] Filed March 26, 1968 Patented Sept.8,l970

[72] inventor [54] SUSPENDED RAILWAY CAR AERODYNAMICALLY SUPPORTED 6Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 104/89, 104/23,104/134,104/155,105/148,105/150,180/15,198/1,212/134 [51] 1m.C1 11 3 01, B611) 13/08, Bv 3/04 [50] Fieldoi'Search 104/23, 23FS, 89,134, 136,138,155;114/67.1; /148, 149,;74/207; /15; 187/17; 198/177;

Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-Howard BeltranAttorney- Harold W. Adams ABSTRACT: A high speed guided flying transportvehicle for traveling along a guide rail in spaced relation to the guiderail and supported by aerodynamic lift.

iatented Se t. 8; 1970 Sheet MENTOR WARNER H. W/TMER ATTORNEY PatentedSept. 8, 1970 3,527,170

Sheet 2 of 3 INVENTOR WARNER H. W/TMER ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 8, 19793,527,170

Sheet 0f 3 INVENTOR FIG. 5. WARNER H. W/TMEI? ATTORNEY SUSPENDED RAILWAYCAR AERODYNAMICALLY SUPPORTED BACKGROUND INFORMATION Although high speedtransportation devices are known utilizing an air bearing or airhydrostatic bearing support, they inherently require that the road bedor supporting structure for the vehicle be of sufficient strength andsize to support the weight of the vehicle. The reason for this is thatthe lift supplied by hydrostatic action-reaction forces is directlyrelated to the weight of the vehicle. Therefore, as with a conventionalrailway train, the road bed and tracks are expensive to install andmaintain. In addition, with conventional ground effect type vehicles,any debris or large objects on the road bed or rail can produce severesafety hazards.

Conventional high-speed trains utilizing the ground effect principlehave dispensed with wheels because of their encumbering speedrestrictions and also to eliminate vibration or noise. Trains guided byrails are safer than other vehicles controlled by the operator andpermit a much higher speed of operation with far greater safety. Theseand other problems have been alleviated in air bearing vehicle designsin which the vehicle is supported by cushions of air and which areguided by a track over which the vehicle travels to provide a systemfree of restrictions due to steering problems. However, even with theadvantage of an air cushion with its consequent low friction, a vehicledesigned for hydrostatic support on a track still requires a road bed orsuspension system capable of supporting the weight of the vehicle.Further, ground effect type vehicles require a contoured shape to workmost effectively to stabilize sideways thrust of the vehicle for maximumeffectiveness. This construction permits debris to collect in the roadbed or rail and thus raises a serious question of safety.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved highspeed land transportation device.

Another object is to provide a high speed land transportation systemutilizing a continuous relatively smooth overhead monorail service alongwhich a low pressure air bearing aeronautically supported vehicle isguided.

A further object of this invention is to provide a high speed monorailtransportation device wherein the under surface of a guiding railstructure corresponds in configuration with a matching upper wingsurface of the vehicle which is maintained in a spaced relation with theunder surface of the monorail by a low pressure aerodynamic air cushionhaving a bearing surface substantially equal to the wing surface area ofthe vehicle.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a high speedtransportation vehicle including propulsion means for the vehicle andmeans for providing a continuous high volume low pressure air flow to anaerodynamic air bearing wing construction.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a high speedtransport vehicle wherein both propulsion and aerodynamic support arederived from a single source of power.

These and many other objects and advantages may be achieved by means ofa high speed transport vehicle in accordance with the principles of thisinvention which in general may include a vehicle for travelling along amonorail and provided with a wing surface over which in operation a lowpressure, high velocity air fluid flow is maintained between the wingsurface and a matching monorail surface. The fluid flow between the wingsurface and the corresponding monorail surface maintains both anaerodynamic lift and a cushion effect whereby the vehicle is maintainedin a spaced relation with the monorail surface. In principle, thevehicle flys the same as an airplane. The high velocity low pressure airstream forming the air cushion between the wing surface of the vehicleand the corresponding surface of the monorail is forced in a directiontransverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle. As the undersurface of the vehicle is exposed to a higher atmospheric pressure, theresulting press-differential lifts the vehicle removing the vehiclesweight from the monorail suspension or supporting system. In addition,the air innerface between the wing surface of the vehicle and thecorresponding surface of the monorail acts as a low friction airbearing.

The objects and advantages of this invention will become readilyapparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment of the invention when read in view of the appended drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the inventionillustrating the wing surface of the vehicle and the corresponding undersurface of the monorail cross section:

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 1illustrating the aerodynamic lift principle of the in vention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention wherein the wingsurface ofthe vehicle and the under surface ofthe rail are substantiallyflat;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view ofa third embodiment of the inventionwherein both the wing surface of the vehicle and the supporting monorailare substantially cylindrical in cross section;

FIG. 5 is a further alternative embodiment of the invention includingmultiple rails and wings; and

FIG. 6 is a partial side elevational view of a vehicle in accordancewith the principles of this invention and includ ing a modified wing.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate a high speed tranportation vehicle in accordance with theprinciples of this invention and which generally comprises a train 11 ofvehicles 12 connected in trail for movement along a monorail structure13 supported by post 14. The monorail structure is generally of convexconfiguration corresponding with a wing 15 of each ofthe vehicles 12. Aswill be explained, the monorail 13 may be fabricated from relativelylight material or from sheet metal because support for the vehicle isprovided by aerodynamic lift. Because of the light construction ofmonorail 13, the supporting posts 14 may also be of relatively lightconstruction and widely spaced.

Each of the vehicles 12 may be provided with a lower passenger or cargocompartment 16 attached and depending from the support wing 15. Thecurved wing 15 includes a vertically extending slot or passage slot 17at the exit portion 30 of which an air stream issues orthogonal to thelongitudinal axis of the train 11. The passage slot 17 may be continuousalong the length of each vehicle 12 or a plurality of spaced verticalpassages may be provided depending upon the weight and size of thevehicle 12 and the lift force required to overcome the force of gravityand to aerodynamically support the vehicle. A conventional jet engine 18provides thrust for the train and a portion of the compressed air fromthe engine is passed into a chamber 19 connecting with the passage 17 toestablish a low pressure high velocity air stream diverging at 30 into aplenum chamber 20 formed between the lower curved surface 21 of theconvex shaped monorail 13 and the upper surface 26 of the wing 15. Thislow pressure high volume stream of air exhausts through vents 22. Ifpreferred, an independent source may be provided to establish a highvelocity, low pressure fluid stream such as by conventional compressors.

As shown in FIG. 2 air flowing into an intake 25 ofjet engine 18 iscompressed and a portion of the engine air stream directed into plenumchamber 20 where it divides into substantially equal streams.lnpingement of the air from the slot 17 at the exit 30 against theundersurfaces 21 of the monorail 13 splits the air stream into streams23 and 24 which flow outwardly along and between a first inner wingsurface 26 and the surface 21 to effectively form the plenum chamber 20.Ends 27 of the wing 15 are turned over the rail 13 to retain the vehicleon the rail in the event of failure of the jet engine 18. The airstreams23 and 24 perform four actions. The high velocity air streams betweenthe airfoil wing surface 26 and the undersurface 21 of the monorail l3creates an aerodynamic pressure differential between the chambers andthe exterior wing surface which lifts the vehicle in a manner to counterbalance the action of the force of gravity. Additionally, the airdragforces of the stream flowing in the plenum chamber 20 includes avertical and horizontal vector force component. The horizontal vectorforce components of the drag forces of air streams 23 and 24 counterbalance each other to horizontally stabilize the vehicle relative to therail. The verticle vector force components of the drag forces act in amanner to aid in lifting the vehicle with a concave wing surface asshown in FIG. 2 contrary to conventional airplane drag forces whichnever aid lift and are in a direction opposite to thrust. Or thecombined action of the aerodynamic lift and the forced air between themonorail and wing surface and equilibrium distance is stabilized toallow the wing surface 26 to lie close to but not touching the monorailsurface 21. Because of this equilibrium condition a third principleaction of the air streams 23 and 24 is to provide a very low frictionair bearing between the under surface 21 of the monorail l3 and the wingsurface 26 of the wing 15. Consequently, a thrust force provided by thetrain 11 by the jet engines 18 is effectively transferred to forwardmotion because of the very low opposing friction forces. A fourth actionof the air streams 23 and 24 is to effectively dampen or cushion shocktransmitted forces from irregularities on the monorail surface or due toexternal air turbulence to the passenger or cargo compartment I6. Infact, passengers and cargo ride on a cushion of air.

At the completion of aerodynamic air flow through the plenum chamber 20,the stream is vented at holes 22. To assure passenger safety in theevent of engine failure, the overhang or lips 27 allows friction brakingof the vehicle. The structure of this vehicle and monorail eliminatesthe hydrostatic action-reaction forces in conventional air bearingsupports, provides a very low friction air cushion and also stabilizesthe vehicle against lateral sway.

The drag forces of streams 23 and 24 continue to aid. lift of thevehicle even after a high speed is obtained at which time coventionaldrag forces become operative on the external surfaces of the vehiclewhich as in the case of an airplane are always in opposition to thrust.

An alternative embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 3, operatesin the same manner although less efficient in operation because all dragforces are offset and there is no verticle force component to assist inlifting the vehicle. In this embodiment a cargo or passenger transportvehicle 31 is attached to and suspended from a flat wing 32 and isconfined within a flat guide rail 33, the portions 34 of which areinturned to provide channels 35 within which ends 36 of the wing 32 arereceived. The channels 35 are of sufficient width to permit verticleadjustment ofthe wing. Projecting shoulders 37, the under surface of therail, and upper surface 39 of the wing forms a plenum chamber 40,through which, a low pressure, high velocity air stream is directedthrough a centrally positioned verticle passage 41. The air streamflowing through passage 41 into plenum chamber 40 divides into equalstreams 42 and 43 which flow transversely of the longitudinal axis ofthe vehicle and are vented through vent passages 44 formed by shoulders37 and the ends of wings 32.

Propulsion of the vehicle 31 is provided by a conventional jet reactionpower plant 45 mounted under the compartment. A portion of the jetstream from engine 45 is diverted into passage 41 and through the plenumchamber 40 providing aerodynamic lift because of the high velocity, lowpressure air flow over wing surface 39. Because the streams are equaland opposite in direction all drag forces are cancelled. As the vehicleflys within the guide rail, the guide rail and supporting columns may befabricated of light weight material there being minimum hydrostaticaction-reaction forces. When the lift forces are removed, the wing andguide rail permit friction braking in an emergency. Normally, braking isprovided by reverse thrust from the jet engine.

FIG. 4 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the invention inwhich the guide rail 51 is tubular in cross section and wing 52 attachedto a compartment 53 is semi-circular in configuration and of slightlylarger diameter than the rail. Propulsion is provided by ajet-reactionpower plant 54 and a portion of the jet stream diverted between theinner wing surface and exterior surface of rail 51 through a centrallypositioned passage 55. Fluid flow within plenum chamber 56 is transverseto the direction of vehicle travel and creates a pressure differentialbetween the inner and exterior wing surfaces establishing aerodynamiclift before discharge through ducts 57. As in FIGS. 1 and 2 verticledrag forces of the fluid stream aid in lift while horizontal drag forcesoffset one another and laterally stabilize the vehicle 53 on the rail.When lift forces are removed, the vehicle is lowered onto the rail toprovide friction braking. A flexible membrane 58 shown partially brokenaway over the forward portion of the wing may be provided to act as abaffle for air flow inwardly directed at high train speeds which act tochange the direction of the forced air fiow from the slot transverse tothe longitudinal axis of the train. As shown in side view FIG. 5, theforward portion of the wing 15 so as to act as a scoop 60 for incomingair to further aid a pressure differential between the plenum chamberand the outer surface of the vehicle.

A further alternative embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 6 mayinclude two guide rails 70 and a vehicle 71 provided with twocorresponding wings 72. As the principle of operation and remainingstructure is the same as in FIG. I, a detailed description of thisembodiment is not believed necessary.

Although preferred embodiments have been described in detail, numerouschanges and modifications may be made within the principles of theinvention. For example, the fluid medium does not necessarily have to beair whereby an undersea vehicle whereof the ambient fluid is water andthe forced fluid is also water may be constructed within the principlesof the invention, and in addition the term monorail does not limit thescope of the invention to include multiple winged or multiple surfacedtracks. In addition the forced air flow may issue from a forward slotand be in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the train.Therefore it is intended that this invention be limited only by thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A flying transport vehicle for traveling along a guide railcomprising: at least one rigid elongated guide rail; means forsupporting said guide rail; a vehicle supported in spaced relation tosaid guide rail; at least one wing formed on said vehicle, said wingconforming in configuration to a portion of said guide rail and spacedtherefrom; a first rigid wing surface on said wing spaced from saidguide rail and forming a plenum chamber there between extendingtransversely of the longitudinal axis of said guide rail and openinginto the ambient; a second rigid exterior wing surface on said wingexposed to ambient pressure; a means for providing a relatively highervelocity stream of fluid mounted on said vehicle; centrally positionedmeans interconnecting the stream of fluid and said plenum chamber, saidstream of fluid passing between said guide rail and said first wingsurface in said plenum chamber reducing the pressure on said first wingsurface relative to the ambient pressure on said second wing surface,thereby exerting a lift force on said wing to lift said vehicle inspaced relation to said guide rail and thereby providing a low frictionfluid bearing for propelling said vehicle on said guide rail therebyproviding a flying vehicle guided by said rail.

2. A flying transport vehicle as defined in claim 1 wherein a pluralityof said vehicles are connected in train.

3. A flying transport vehicle as defined in claim I wherein said guiderail is convex and said first wing surface is concave in configuration,said high velocity low pressure fluid stream dividing and flowing insubstantially equal volumes and in opposite directions in saidtransverse passage producing a lift cle in the event of power failure.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for providing arelatively higher velocity stream of fluid comprises a jet engine forproviding thrust for said vehicle.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein separate compressor means areprovided for reducing said pressure within said plenum chamber.

